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Over the years, Bollywood has witnessed one long-standing and often ignored issue and that is pay parity. There has been a debate about how female actors are paid less remuneration than their male counterparts. Several actresses including top ones including Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Anushka Sharma and others have openly talked about the gender pay gap in the industry. It’s a sad truth that female stars are still paid a very small amount as compared to their male co-stars.
Here are 7 top actresses including Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma and more who have come forward in the past and spoken about the issue.
1. Deepika Padukone
In 2018, Deepika Padukone made headlines by revealing that her fees for ‘Padmaavat’ were less than what her male co-stars were paid. She also said that she was aware but still chose to go ahead with the project for the larger cause of its story.
Deepika Padukone told The Times of India, “I know my track record and what I’m worth. I don’t think I’ll be able to live with the thought, knowing that I have been a part of a film, had the same creative contribution or brought the same value to a film, but being underpaid.”
2. Kangana Ranaut
Kangana Ranaut has also been vocal about pay parity in Bollywood. She once discussed how male actors are given more fees than their female co-stars although both are equally important for the film’s success.
Talking to NDTV she said, “My male counterparts are paid thrice the amount. No one can guarantee the success of a film so why such discrimination?”
3. Priyanka Chopra
International star Priyanka Chopra also once revealed that for the first time in her career, she was paid an equal fee as her male co-star for Citadel.
In an interview with Glamour, she revealed, “I was told that female actors are replaceable in films because they just stand behind a guy anyway. I’m still used to being paid—like most actresses around the world—a lot less than the boys. We’re told we’re too provocative or that being sexy is our strength, which it can be, and it is, but that’s not the only thing we have.”
4. Anushka Sharma
Anushka Sharma also once spoke about this issue and noted that it’s extremely unfair for female actors to get paid less than their male co-stars. She also urged women to have courage, speak up, and demand equal pay.
5. Sonam Kapoor
During an interview with the BBC, Sonam actress spoke about how the gender pay gap in Bollywood must be addressed. In an interview with Variety, she said, “The gender pay gap is humongous. And I don’t think that will be narrowing very soon, unfortunately, but the roles are getting meatier for sure.”
6. Kareena Kapoor Khan
Kareena Kapoor Khan, who has been in the industry for long, also once opened up about the stereotypes and pay inequality the actresses have to go through.
In an interview with The Guardian, she stated, “Just a few years ago, no one would talk about a man or woman actually getting equal pay in a movie. Now there are a lot of us being very vocal about it. I make it quite clear what I want and I think that respect should be given. It’s not about being demanding, it’s about being respectful towards women. And I think things are kind of changing.”
7. Katrina Kaif
Katrina Kaif has also opened up about fewer opportunities given to Bollywood actresses and how the producers do not have faith in them. In an interview with Barkha Dutt for We The Women, she noted, “My argument to that is, which I discuss with a lot of producers I’m close to and have worked with, give the female-dominated films—with maybe one or two female leads—the same budget and mounting that you are giving to the male stars or the combination of a male and a female star. Give that to a female film and see what happens then.”
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